OPM President Ogie Alcasid had a rousing duet with rapper Quest with the classic hit NANDITO AKO. The unique combination was one of many at the PALAKASIN ANG OPM COLLAB Sessions. The first 12 hour OPM Music festival attracted thousands to the BONIFACIO High Street Amphitheater last March 14, 2015.

OPM Pres. Ogie Alcasid; PALAKASIN ANG OPM COLLAB Sessions first 12-hour OPM festival was held at the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheatre, Bonifacio Global City Taguig last March 14, 2015. Photo by Jude Bautista

Kicking things off in a satellite venue just corner away from the BONIFACIO High Street Amphitheater, was where the OPM Collab Sessions also featured young musicians: Aicelle Santos, Tippy Dos Santos, Aia De Leon, Young JV, Nino Alejandro, DJ Papi, Froilan Canlas, Cucay Pagdilao and Mei Cruz.

New Talent from left: Young JV, Niño Alejandro, Cucay Pagdilao and Aia De Leon. Photos from Official OPM facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PinoySingers PALAKASIN ANG OPM COLLAB Sessions first 12-hour OPM festival was held at the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheatre, Bonifacio Global City Taguig last March 14, 2015.

Ogie talked about why it was important to have an event like this that features new artists, “Marami sa younger generation not too keen on OPM, there should be a real effort to find younger newer artists that represent them. Otherwise ang makikilala lang nilang OPM is the music their parents listened to.”

The definition of OPM has already changed to include indigenous and regional recordings. Alcasid goes on, “Even the definition of OPM has to change and grow. As artists, at kahit as consumers mga tao hindi dapat complacent. Dapat maghanap tayo ng mga bagong musikero at tangkilikin natin sila. They’re the ones helping Pinoy music grow.”

New Talent from left: Mei Cruz, top Aia De Leon and Tippy Dos Santos. Photos from Official OPM facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PinoySingers PALAKASIN ANG OPM COLLAB Sessions first 12-hour OPM festival was held at the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheatre, Bonifacio Global City Taguig last March 14, 2015.

OPM Vice president Noel Cabangon also explained their partnership with the presenter, “If you want to maintain a better condition of your vocal chords maybe you can gargle with Bactidol. I think it’s a good collaboration for the throat and singing. Ganoon lang ka simple at kami singers.”

Ebe Dancel; PALAKASIN ANG OPM COLLAB Sessions first 12-hour OPM festival was held at the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheatre, Bonifacio Global City Taguig last March 14, 2015. Photo by Jude Bautista

The next similar upcoming event that fans have been looking out for is the LINGGO NG MUSIKANG PILIPINO from July 24-31, 2015. The date is one week before LINGGO NG WIKA. It’s a nationwide weeklong event celebrating Filipino music to be launched during PHILPOP Grand finals.

PALAKASIN ANG OPM COLLAB Sessions first 12-hour OPM festival was held at the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheatre, Bonifacio Global City Taguig last March 14, 2015.

PHILPOP is the premiere songwriting competition in the Philippines with a top prize of 1 million pesos and attracting thousands of entries. PHILPOP Grand finals will be held at the MERALCO Theater for the 3rd consecutive year. PHILPOP is the perfect launching pad to create awareness for a nationwide event such as LINGGO NG MUSIKANG PILIPINO.

New Talent from left: (top) DJ Papi (bottom) Froilan Canlas and Aicelle Santos. Photos from Official OPM facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PinoySingers PALAKASIN ANG OPM COLLAB Sessions first 12-hour OPM festival was held at the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheatre, Bonifacio Global City Taguig last March 14, 2015.

In 2013 Lara Maigue was part of the first batch of PHILPOP finalists. Karylle interpreted her song SAYO NA LANG AKO. She opens up on the experience since then,“Before PHILPOP I never imagined myself to be here. To be one of the artists to stand alongside Christian Bautista, Noel Cabangon, it feels wonderful. Not a lot of people know that PHILPOP changed my life.”

Lara also had a stint in a show for TV5, “I was in TRIDERAS in TV5 that was aired up to December 2014. TRINDERAS, it’s a musical where we sing all OPM. It’s about 3 tinderas trending on line. My dad there in the show is here Ding Dong Avanzado. My mom there was Ara Mina. I’m so happy for her she just gave birth. Ding dong’s daughter is so beautiful she’s actually a musician also. Feeling hunk si Ding Dong well hunk naman siya talaga. He took the dad role.”

Young artists from left: Casper Blancaflor, Lara Maigue & Kai Honasan. PALAKASIN ANG OPM COLLAB Sessions first 12-hour OPM festival was held at the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheatre, Bonifacio Global City Taguig last March 14, 2015. Photo by Jude Bautista

Perhaps as part of Ogie’s mission in developing new OPM artists is his new venture of which Lara is a part of. She added, “I have a new management A TEAM- Alcasid Entertainment Artist Management. I’m the first artist of A TEAM Ogie’s first management company. That’s exciting because they’re handling all songwriters; everyone’s a songwriter except for EMPOY. I can’t imagine being under any other talent management. Who else will understand acting, singing and composing but Ogie Alcasid?”

Basti Artadi; PALAKASIN ANG OPM COLLAB Sessions first 12-hour OPM festival was held at the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheatre, Bonifacio Global City Taguig last March 14, 2015. Photo by Jude Bautista

PALAKASIN ANG OPM COLLAB Sessions first 12-hour OPM festival was held at the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheatre, Bonifacio Global City Taguig last March 14, 2015.

Aia De Leon; Photo from Official OPM facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PinoySingers PALAKASIN ANG OPM COLLAB Sessions first 12-hour OPM festival was held at the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheatre, Bonifacio Global City Taguig last March 14, 2015.

Quest performed his hit SALUDO. PALAKASIN ANG OPM COLLAB Sessions first 12-hour OPM festival was held at the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheatre, Bonifacio Global City Taguig last March 14, 2015. Photo by Jude Bautista

Cucay Pagdilao; Photo from Official OPM facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PinoySingers PALAKASIN ANG OPM COLLAB Sessions first 12-hour OPM festival was held at the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheatre, Bonifacio Global City Taguig last March 14, 2015.

Young JV poses w fans. Photo from Official OPM facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PinoySingers PALAKASIN ANG OPM COLLAB Sessions first 12-hour OPM festival was held at the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheatre, Bonifacio Global City Taguig last March 14, 2015.

Froilan Canlas; Photo from Official OPM facebook page. PALAKASIN ANG OPM COLLAB Sessions first 12-hour OPM festival was held at the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheatre, Bonifacio Global City Taguig last March 14, 2015.

Davey Langit collaborated with Lolita Carbon in the song BALITA. PALAKASIN ANG OPM COLLAB Sessions first 12-hour OPM festival was held at the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheatre, Bonifacio Global City Taguig last March 14, 2015. Photo by Jude Bautista

Jude Thaddeus Bautista

I'm a professional writer and photographer for over a decade. The subjects that I cover vary from entertainment to film, music, travel, lifestyle and even sports. Stories and pictures can come from anywhere, this is my way of sharing them with you.

Yes we have to do something while there's still time renxkyoko. We must tell our kababayan, through our blogs, social media why its wrong to vote for him, using reason, logic, common sense. Thank you for your comment.

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[…] for granted, not just by the youth but Filipinos in general. That’s why yearly events such as the PASINAYA where these activities come together are so important. Include Cinemalaya, Cinema One, Virgin […]

[…] for granted, not just by the youth but Filipinos in general. That’s why yearly events such as the PASINAYA where these activities come together are so important. Include Cinemalaya, Cinema One, Virgin […]

Our Lost Culture in 3 Stars And A Sun | Photos & Text by Jude Bautista

[…] for granted, not just by the youth but Filipinos in general. That’s why yearly events such as the PASINAYA where these activities come together are so important. Include Cinemalaya, Cinema One, Virgin […]

[…] for granted, not just by the youth but Filipinos in general. That’s why yearly events such as the PASINAYA where these activities come together are so important. Include Cinemalaya, Cinema One, Virgin […]

Our Lost Culture in 3 Stars And A Sun | Text and Photos by Jude Bautista